Impersonation Scams
Impersonation Scams: How Criminals Pretend to Be People You Trust
By Vanguard Asset Recovery Group ยท September 15, 2026
Impersonation scams occur when criminals pretend to be trusted individuals, companies, professionals, or authorities to obtain money or sensitive information. Learn how to identify impersonation fraud and protect yourself.
Instead of approaching a victim as an obvious stranger, a criminal may pretend to be someone the victim already knows or trusts.
The impersonator might claim to be a family member, friend, bank employee, company representative, lawyer, government official, investigator, or technical support representative.
How Impersonation Scams Work
The scammer first creates a believable identity.
They may copy a person's name, photograph, company logo, email signature, social media profile, or other identifying information.
The impersonator then contacts the victim and creates a situation requiring immediate action.
For example, they might claim:
A family member has an emergency.
A bank account has been compromised.
An investment account requires verification.
A payment is overdue.
A legal problem requires immediate payment.
A computer account has been hacked.
A package is being held.
An investigation requires confidential information.
The goal is to make the victim act before verifying the request.
Warning Signs
Be suspicious when someone:
Demands immediate payment
Requests cryptocurrency or gift cards
Asks for passwords or verification codes
Refuses independent verification
Uses an unfamiliar phone number or email address
Threatens consequences if you do not comply
Insists that the conversation remain secret
Provides unusual payment instructions
Verify Before You Pay
If someone claims to represent a bank, company, government organization, or professional service, independently locate the organization's official contact information.
Do not rely on the telephone number, email address, or website supplied by the person contacting you.
Contact the organization directly using information obtained from an independent source.
Protect Sensitive Information
Never provide passwords, private keys, recovery phrases, authentication codes, or other sensitive credentials to someone simply because they claim to represent a trusted organization.
A legitimate organization should not require you to reveal your private cryptocurrency recovery phrase or private key.
If You Have Been Defrauded
Stop communicating about financial transactions until you can verify who you are dealing with.
Preserve screenshots, emails, telephone numbers, usernames, payment receipts, transaction information, and other evidence.
Contact your bank, payment provider, cryptocurrency exchange, or other relevant financial institution as quickly as possible.
Report the incident to the appropriate authorities and platform involved.
Final Thoughts
Impersonation fraud succeeds when criminals make victims believe that verification is unnecessary.
Taking a few extra minutes to independently verify a person's identity can prevent a major financial loss.
When money, passwords, or sensitive information are involved, verify first and act second.